Journey to a Polio-Free Africa: Nigeria's Eradication Milestone

"In 1988, polio was endemic in 125 countries. On September 25, 2015, that number became 2. After marking one year without a wild polio case, Nigeria - which just three years ago accounted for more than half the world's cases - was officially removed from the list of polio-endemic countries. Here is their story..."

This short film presented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) portrays Nigeria's experience in reaching a major milestone in the global fight to end polio. As explained here, many obstacles were overcome, including an oral polio vaccine (OPV) immunisation boycott, the Boko Haram insurgency, and the challenge of reaching every child in even the most remote villages. Among the strategies: Armies of women mobilised alongside religious and community leaders; polio survivors and volunteer vaccinators went door to door.

The film features interviews with leaders who have been part of the polio eradication effort in Nigeria, describing the history of the struggle and explaining how communication strategies have played a role in this milestone of being part in the global struggle.